I have two, that got a shaky start but seem strong now. The first was started last summer from a 2 lb package of bees. The second was a split from the first. At this point I want to get myself up to 10 hives. I think that will be enough of a job - part time mind you - but a job anyway. It takes me about 30 minutes in each hive to do a good look through. That's from the start of opening the lid, to the end of closing it up. So I figure with 10 hives I could manage it well, but I'd have to be very diligent in my inspections. On nice weeks I could look over 2 hives and be done. During rainy, cloudy, or cold weeks I'd have a much larger job to manage on the possible ONE day I'd get for inspection. That can be pretty rough if I don't start to get over my dependence on the bee suit. That thing gets HOT very quickly.

i only own one. i'm taking care of 4 that belog to someone else, and 2 more that belong to his son (different location). And i may be helping out somebody during honey harvest...or if his tree throws a swarm (he volunteered to show me how to catch it, beekeepers are as friendly as quilters and i never thought i'd ever meet another group of people so helpful as that).Next year i will have ONE (okay, maybe two) in MY BACKYARD (enough of this driving 40 miles one way just to work the bees).beefree

I have had over 20 but I am starting over from scratch this year. If this last split works I will have 7. I am planing on making 8 this year. I will try to stop myself at 10. I think 8-10 is a good hobby number more starts getting a little serious.

I think if Bee Boy redid this poll and broke it down to NUMBER OF HIVES from 0 to 10 then we'd have a more balanced poll. This poll does though show that the majority are indeed backyard beekeepers and NOT farming bees at higher hive rates.

I'd be curious to see the numbers 0-1, 1-2, 2-3, 3-4, 4-5, 5-6, 6-7, 7-8, 8-9, 9-10, more than 10. Then I know we'd see some interesting numbers - my guess is 2 to 5 hives is typical in the forum from all the many posts I have read.

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Anonymous

Started with 2 splits from another beekeeper last year. One died this spring and I got another hive in May. Split both hives in May. Created a nuc by combining frames from the original two hives that has grown strong enough to now be in a regular hive body and is going strong. Started another nuc last week that now has queen cells in it so I'm hoping for the best.

One hive for me, but sure wish I had started with two like most people suggest. I think it would have made it much easier to know if your hives are doing ok or not. I will add at least one more next spring.

I started with 1, to which I added a "nuc", then got 2 swarms, and then after artificially swarming the first hive, have ended up with 5. (this is still my first season, having started in March). It's really really handy to start with a few, as I can really see the differences between them. I'm improving at spotting the queen, and on manipulations, it's far easier to do comparisons.

This poll was posted a very long time ago almost 10 years. :-D I am resurrecting it. 8-)

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It is highly recommend that split be done with only strong healthy hives that have at least two Brood Chambers with Brood in all stages of development. Frames with capped Brood should be split evenly between the two hives.

"Brutal" is indeed the word for this winter, and its far from over :'(. Went into winter w/ five colonies in 10 frame Langs and 3 NUCs in a LONG Hive. Won't know for a while yet whether or which (or any) of them survived……... :-\

I suspect the 10 Hives and below will be the most selected in this poll.

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"Trust those who seek the truth, doubt those who say they've found it."

Currently I have seventy hives with only four having bees on it. :-P :-D :mrgreen:

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It is highly recommend that split be done with only strong healthy hives that have at least two Brood Chambers with Brood in all stages of development. Frames with capped Brood should be split evenly between the two hives.